, 1887-08-04
OLD RANKIN'S GAL.
Written for this psper.l

lWEkttu thib PopSt'l
Craddock had certainly lost his way. Early
that morning he had set out from Magnolia,
intending to ride about ten miles to Disston's,
where he expected TO buy sugar cane for the
spring planting on his newly acquired Florida
plantation. But his northern experience had
not fitted him for travelling the obscure ways
by courtesy called roads In Florida. Every
where they go winding through the pine for
ests, simple wagon tracks that turn out around
stumps and fallen timber, and often become
lost to the Impractical eye In the wiry grass.
The occasional roads that intersect the one
travelled do not help, but rather confuse and
bewilder, the stranger. 1t is not to be won
dered at, therefore, that Craddock missed his
way, or that his efforts to find 1t again should
only carry bim farther away from his desti.
nation and equally so from his home.
Already the heat and glare Of the day had
given place to a cooling breeze, and the
shadows were deepening in the forest, when
he found himself on the edge Of clearing In
the center Of which stood a rude cabin. AS
he rode up to tho fence inclosing the prem
ises, he was greeted by chorus Of savage
barks from the i'll looking ours that came
forth from under the house. At the same
time the cabin door opened and a man as i'll
favored as his dogs came out-a lank, cadav-
erous individual, coarsely dressed, with a
slouch hat that half hid his evil looking face.
There was sinister gleam in his eye when he
saw his caller, but he called out, with awk-
ward attempt at cordial greeting:
"Evenin', strangerl Won't ye dismountp
~ am a stranger in this part of the coun-
try" replied Craddock, "and in trying to
reach Disston's have lost my way. Could you
set me rightp
"Wall, mister, ye are long way from
Disston's Hits good fifteen mile over yon
to his patch" indicating the direction with a
jerk Of his thumb, "and ye'd hev q mighty po'
time agittin' thar tonight"
This was unwelcome news to Craddock,
but realizing that he must accept the situa-
ton, he said;
"Then am afraid shall have to ask you
to keep me all night"
Again the evil light danced in the Crackers
eyes, and, as IL conscious Of the fact, he drew
his hat down farther over his face as he
answered carelessy:
"Oh. ye kin stay byar, ef that's what ye
drivin' at, mister This hyar amt no gret
shakes for keepin' folkses, but we'uns has a
heap O. corn cakes and bacon, ef ye kin go
that fodder"
The offer was accepted, and entering the
house Craddock found himself in room Of
medium SIZE on one side of which was q large
fireplace, and on the opposite side two DOORS
which he could see led to small sleeping
rooms. Another door in the rear led to
rude cook house. In one corner rude lad
der led to the loft above.
A woman sat huddled before the fire when
the men entered, but she Immediately arose,
and was leaving the room without speaking
when the host addressed her:
"S'mantby, this hyar strangers goin' ter
stay hyar all night Git him sum supper"
Without word the woman disappeared in
the direction of the cook room. where pres
emily he heard voices in earnest conversation.
A few moments later young girl Of 16
entered and began setting the rude table. She
was a pale, sad faced creature, and Craddock
felt strangely interested in her Occasionally
she cast furtive glance at him, and was an
exceedingly long time performing the simple
duties Evidently she had something on her
mind, but Craddock concluded that it was
simply girlish curiosity, and gave her no
more heed.
Presently the i'll looking host, who had
lighted his pipe, strolled out, remarking some-
thing about looking after the "critters," but
he had scarcely got beyond the clearing than
excited whisper cried
"Mister, git outen this, quicki This hyar
are robbers house This are Rankinses!"
Rankin'sl He had heard of it. Dark tales
were told of how travellers had here been
robbed, and, it was believed, sometimes mur-
dered, but Rankin and his gang had thus far
escaped the clutches Of the law. And now
here he was, in the power Of these lawless
men, with no way Of escape open to him.
But he would not show fear before this child
and he was about to reply lightly, when foot
steps were heard and the woman entered
bearing his supper Of greasy bacon and boiled
Lominy.
Supper ended, Craddock lit cigar and
went out into the pine grove. He knew that
nothing would be done before he slept, and
he wanted TO be where he could think calmly
and clearly. Here certainly WAS peace anC
solitude. The moons silvery light made
plain his path, and the cool breeze famed hi.
heated brow. Peace and purity; pity that
mans baseness should mar the harmony ol
nature.
It was not pleasant thought that he wa.
| miles from other human habitations in
| wilderness unknown to him, and in thi,
place of all others But he had a good re
| n brave heart, and having revolved the stu
| alton in his mind he determined to let mat
| ters take their course, only keeping on thu
| alert and resolving to make a desperate flgh
| when the crisis came. Scarcely had Grad
| dock reached this conclusion than he wa
startled by light step behind him, and a fig
| ure darted behind a tree.
| "Don't be skeered, mister; hits only Nan
| They'uns mustn't see me hyar, but l he'd t.
see ye agin. Ye must git outen this byar
sure! He's gone now fer the gang"
"Who is hel" asked Craddock. A blusl
mantled the girls cheek and her eyes wer
| downcast as she answered:
"He's my paw. But" she added, apologet
ically, she's powerful good to me sometimes
| an kinder reckon he'd be different eff 'twan
fer the others" Then, suddenly looking vi
again, she cried:
| "But please, mister, don't yer stay hyar
Don't yer do hitl Thar are enuf bad bel
done hyar" and she looked with horror ant
aversion pictured on her face at the hous
she had just left
| "Don't be alarmed, Man." said Craddock
touched by the girls earnestness. "They will
find me ready, and SO will do nothing"
A half smile lit up the girls face as sh
| ..:l h,,>, cO vpictar hut I'm, v,oyarf,,